Addressing drinking water, sewage, power issues key to Thiruvananthapuram’s growth, says Minister C.P. John

Addressing issues related to drinking water, sewage, and electricity will be the top priorities for the administration in the capital city in the wake of rapid growth in population and the associated infrastructure development in Thiruvananthapuram district, Transport Minister C.P. John has said.

Delivering the keynote address at a felicitation programme organised by The Hindu for property buyers from its ‘Home Expo’ conducted last year, the Minister said that around 1.5 million people reside in the city, with the northern and southern regions forming its two main growth corridors.

The northern region, comprising Kazhakuttam, has witnessed a significant population boom in recent years, driven by the steady growth of companies and infrastructure development. Although the city centre hosts a significant population, the southern region, including Vizhinjam, has a comparatively lower population density. Construction activities, particularly apartment projects, have not progressed at the same pace in the south. However, there has been a growing preference for the southern region in recent years, especially following the commissioning of the Vizhinjam port, said the Minister.

“There is a substantial gap between the demand for and supply of drinking water, and this issue must be addressed. If we have adequate storage in dams like Peppara, sufficient water can be supplied to residents. Therefore, the immediate priority should be to address potable water issues, along with resolving problems in the sewage system. Although we have built a sewage treatment plant, it is not operating at full capacity. Thirdly, the capacity of power substations should be upgraded to meet growing demands,” Mr. John added.

Development with a vision

Commenting on the prospects and opportunities in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.V. Rajesh said the drinking water pipelines laid in the early 1990s have remained largely unchanged despite the city’s exponential growth over the years. “The city is now home to around 800 IT companies and more than 80,000 IT professionals alone. However, infrastructure development has not kept pace with the increasing demand. Therefore, all future development projects must be undertaken with a vision for the city’s growth over the next 50 years,” he said.

The gathering was organised as a token of appreciation for the trust and participation shown by the buyers. It also provided an opportunity for them to interact with distinguished personalities from the city, members of CREDAI, leading developers, and fellow homebuyers. Around 65 families who had availed themselves of the opportunity attended the event. Mementos sponsored by Style Plus, KTDC, The Leela, and Swayamvara Silks were also presented to property buyers of ‘The Hindu Home Expo’ during the function.

Anandan S., Resident Editor (Kerala), The Hindu, delivered the presidential address. Sundar Kondur, Chief Revenue Officer, The Hindu Group; S.N. Raghuchandran Nair, General Convener, CREDAI Kerala; Arun A. Unnithan, President, CREDAI Thiruvananthapuram; and Jaydeep Narasimhan, Senior General Manager and Kerala Head, CERA, also spoke on the occasion. K.K. Joshy, AVP and Kerala Head, The Hindu, welcomed the gathering, while M.R. Krishnanunni, Senior Manager, The Hindu, proposed the vote of thanks.